What are ligands?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Ligands are ions or molecules that bind to a central metal atom to create a coordination complex. They have a particular attraction to their corresponding molecule or ion due to electromagnetic forces. Examples include water, ammonia, cyanide, and chlorine ions.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Term

A ligand is an ion or molecule that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex. It's a substance that could produce a complex molecule with a metal atom.
02

Function of Ligands

In ligand binding, the ligand and its corresponding molecule or ion have a certain level of attraction, which is caused by electromagnetic force. It can help stabilize the molecule and determine its reactivity.
03

Examples of Ligands

Examples of ligands can include water (H2O), ammonia (NH3), cyanide (CN-) and chlorine ions (Cl-) among others.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free